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The fallout from Christian Petracca’s season-ending injury in the King’s Birthday match against Collingwood looks far from over, with the AFL Players Association now probing into the incident.
The Demons midfielder underwent major surgery at the time to repair four broken ribs, lacerations to the spleen and a punctured lung after an incident in the Demons’ 38-point loss to the Pies.
Since then, there have been numerous reports about the potential mismanagement of the situation on the day that led to his surgery, and afterwards, the revelation that his family was told that he came close to death.
Veteran AFL journalist Caroline Wilson has reported that the AFL Players Association CEO Paul Marsh has started investigating personally, after returning from leave, and more of the story will come to light in the off-season.
“Paul Marsh has started to talk to various parties involved, including Christian Petracca, about what happened on that fateful day,” Wilson said on Nine’s Footy Classified.
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“This could get very embarrassing for the Melbourne football club. It could get very embarrassing for the AFL, who through their chief medical officer and general counsel Stephen Meade, cleared Melbourne and did not send them a ‘please explain’ for any negligence or wrongdoing.
“The AFL are satisfied from their point of view, that everything was done right. But there is no doubt that terrible stories are still emerging about what happened.
“Miscommunication between the various health transport services involved on the day, the length of time it took for the Demons to call an ambulance, the misdiagnosis of Christian Petracca’s injury.
Christian Petracca leaves the MCG with a rib injury during Melbourne’s loss to Collingwood. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
“The fact that he was taken to the Epworth Hospital and waited there for hours, before being taken to the Alfred (Hospital), where he finally had surgery and was unable to have a general anesthetic, because of the seriousness of the situation.
“He (Marsh) is really concerned, not only for Christian, but for all players and the state of the game, that this was allowed to happen.”
A few weeks ago, Petracca was reportedly seeking a trade away from the Demons, before issuing a statement committing to the Melbourne Football Club.
But Wilson doesn’t believe his family will ever forgive the club.
“He is staying at the Melbourne football club for now. The family has not forgiven. I don’t think they’ll ever forgive for what happened to their son that day,” she said.
“I’m not accusing the Melbourne doctor of negligence or any wrongdoing, but mistakes were made and I’m not just talking about the Melbourne doctor.
“I’m not sure exactly what happened, but the story Christian is telling the PA, I don’t think is pretty.”
This comes as Melbourne announced that there would be an external review of the whole club, led by former All Blacks manager Darren Shand.
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